MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of March 8-14, 2004, Big Island police arrested 15 motorists for drunk driving. Two of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes, and none was under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 197 DUI arrests, compared to 144 during the same period last year, an increase of 37 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

District

Weekly Total

Year to Date

Hamakua North Hilo South Hilo Puna Ka’u Kona South Kohala North Kohala

1 0 4 2 0 6 2 0

3 1 54 28 2 93 13 3

Island Total

15

197

There have been 458 major accidents so far this year, compared to 451 during the same period last year, an increase of 2 percent.

There have been eight traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to two for the same period last year, an increase of 300 percent. There have been no fatalities attributed to drunk driving so far this year, compared to one at this time last year. There have been no drug-related fatalities so far this year, compared to one at the same time last year.